Is spanish fly vegan?

Spanish fly is a substance traditionally derived from the blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria, which belongs to the Meloidae insect family. To produce traditional Spanish fly extracts, these beetles are harvested, dried, and crushed to extract cantharidin, a naturally occurring chemical compound secreted by the insects. While modern novelty items occasionally substitute plant extracts or vitamins under this commercial label, genuine preparations and certain unregulated dietary supplements, tonics, and traditional remedies list authentic Spanish fly as an animal derivative.

Spanish fly is not vegan because it is produced by harvesting and processing living insects. Insects are members of the animal kingdom, meaning that any food, supplement, or beverage containing genuine insect matter or insect-extracted cantharidin is an animal product. Even if certain products marketed with this label contain herbal alternatives, any preparation listing genuine Spanish fly relies on animal-derived ingredients and does not meet vegan standards.